A COUPLE who were among the first in the country to tie the knot in a gay civil ceremony are hoping to become political partners.

James and Brynn Tudor took part in one of the first same sex weddings in the UK when they got hitched at Birmingham Register Office in December.

Now the Liberal Democrat supporters are standing in the local elections tomorrow.

Brynn has set his sights on the Kingshurst and Fordbridge ward and James on the Chelmsley Wood ward.

"It will be the first time the Lib Dems have stood in the north of Solihull and I'm really excited about it," said Brynn, who helped Solihull MP Lorely Burt in her election campaign last year.

"There are a lot of things I would like to tackle in Kingshurst and Fordbridge such as anti-social behaviour and, should I win the seat, it will be one of the first things I do."

The couple, who live in Chelmsley, were married in December and following the ceremony enjoyed a flamboyant 17th Century reception at Aston Hall, in Birmingham, complete with a court jester and minstrel.

Solihull MP Lorely Burt made a special appearance as groomsmaid Anne of Cleves.

The duo will be attending the election count which will take place at North Solihull Sports Centre.

James, a 26-year-old fashion student, met 37-year-old Brynn, a charity worker, when they both worked for the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Brynn said it was his interest in politics which ignited James' enthusiasm.

Seventeen seats are up for grabs and the Lib Dems need to clinch just another two areas to wrest control of Solihull Council from the Tories.

That would leave the council with no one party in overall control. There are currently 51 councillors of whom 27 are Tories, 14 Lib Dems and eight Labour.

* Other candidates standing in Chelmsley Wood are Martin McCarthy (Con), George Morgan (BNP) and Nicholas Stephens (Labour and Cooperative Party). In Kingshurst and Fordbrigde, the other candidates are Robert Hall (Con) and Florence Nash (Lab).